U.S. history

Pioneer Institute is today releasing Restoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History and Civics in America's Schools, which details the decline of history and civics knowledge among students and offers a plan for how states and local school districts can foster understanding of and curiosity about our nation's history.

According to both the NAEP U.S. history and civics test results and a national survey emulating a U.S. citizenship test, students and citizens in America are largely lacking the mastery of the subjects. At a time when history and civics education is highly politicized, we must improve their education to ensure future generations of capable citizens.

Massachusetts — home to so much history, including seminal events such as the Boston Tea Party — has much to be proud of in its own students’ history and civics performance. Even as policymakers have supplanted typical curricular standards with “engagement” mandates that students participate in progressive activism, national attitudes towards Massachusetts’ civic education have remained envious.

The Founding Fathers believed the main role of public education was not workforce development, but to create citizens prepared for informed participation in American democracy. Without this, they feared the nation might dissolve. Never have the founders looked more prescient.

Weaker ELA and math standards have already produced declines in student achievement BOSTON – The draft of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks that was released for public comment in January would follow in the footsteps of recently adopted English,...

As we celebrate Presidents’ Day, Pioneer Institute is pleased to share video highlights, research, and op-eds that we have produced in recent years marking the importance of key presidents in American history – and the vital importance of their inclusion in K-12...

Massachusetts should be cautious in updating its highly regarded history standards BOSTON – As Massachusetts sets about the task of reviewing its K-12 history and social science standards, a new study published by Pioneer Institute describes the processes that have produced exceptional...

Study Recommends That States Require Passage of U.S. History Assessment as High School Graduation Requirement Content knowledge, not pedagogy, should be focus of teacher hiring and professional development BOSTON – States should mandate passage of a U.S. history assessment with a strong...

Study Says Common Core ELA Standards Will Further Harm U.S. History Instruction States and schools should offer separate standards and classes for English and U.S. History rather than follow Common Core approach of merging academic disciplines BOSTON – By trying to include...

http://www.lowellsun.com/editorials/ci_20727036/u-s-history-lessons With the state pouring $3.2 billion a year into the Massachusetts public  school system, it’s fair to say that present-day students have basic resources  to be smarter than any previous generation. But what do Massachusetts students really learn in the classroom?...